page_title: Lazaros Tsamis
section_title: Proclamation of the autonomy of Northern Epirus and his armed participation
hierarchical_section_title: Lazaros Tsamis / North Epirus struggle / Proclamation of the autonomy of Northern Epirus and his armed participation
caption_attribution_description: English: Picture of the official declaration of Independence Argyrokastro (now Gjirokastër) on 1 March 1914. President Georgios Christakis and members of the provisional Government of Northern Epirus, bishops Vasileios and Spyridon as well as local clergy, military personnel and civilians pose together with the automony flag. Drino/Drinos river in the backround. Ελληνικά: Φωτογραφία από την επίσημη ανακύρηξη της αυτονομίας της Βορείου Ηπείρου στο Αργυρόκαστρο (1η Μαρτίου 1914). Εικονίζονται ο πρόεδρος, τα μέλη, στρατιωτική και πολίτες μαζί με την σημαία της αυτονομίας. Στο βάθος ο ποταμός Δρύνος. Español: Foto de la declaración oficial de Autonomía. Los miembros del Gobierno provisional del norte de Epiro, junto con el clero local, oficiales y civiles constituyen, junto con la bandera autonoma. Gjirokastër 1 de marzo de 1914. Drino, río Drinos en el trasfondo. Русский: Официальное провозглашение независимости. 1 марта 1914 года, Аргирокастро (ныне Гирокастра). Президент Георгиос Христакис и члены временного правительства Северного Эпира, епископы Василий и Спиридон, местное духовенство, военнослужащие и гражданские лица вместе с флагом Северного Эпира. Позади видна река Дрино.
context_page_description: Lazaros or Lazos Tsamis, was a Greek merchant of Vlach origin, who participated in the Macedonian Struggle and later as volunteer leader in the struggle for Northern Epirus.
context_section_description: By the end of the Balkan Wars and the unification of part of Macedonia and Greece, the patriotic action of Lazaros does not stop. The following months he expands its business operations in Bilisht, in Vithkuq and Liqenas the district of Korçë. When, on February 17, 1914, he was proclaimed the autonomy of Northern Epirus, his Epirotic origin called him back in the struggle. He left his family and his commercial stores and on 1 March 1914, was present at the formal proclamation of the autonomy of Northern Epirus in Gjirokastër, posing in photos with old comrades from the Macedonian Struggle and the Balkan Wars, the Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of Northern Epirus Georgios Zografos and the Bishops Dryinoupoleos Vasilios and  Vella and Konitsis Spyridon.
  Immediately after he joined the Ieros Lochos of Korçë with commanding officer Lt. George Mavratzas. The battles that followed in Bilisht area, and in which Lazaros participated, caused heavy losses. In the battles wounded several fighters from the Macedonian Struggle, as Tsontos Bardas and Pavlos Melas, brother Vasileios Melas. On June 25, 1914, Lazaros with the armed forces of Tsontos Varda and Pavlos Giparis entered the liberated Korçë.
caption: Photo of the official proclamation of the autonomy of Northern Epirus. In the photo, Lazarus Tsamis is second from right behind the Bishop Vasilios.
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